Road Cycling - Is that coke they're drinking?

Ok, I've watched the Tour De France for the last 3 years now. This year I noticed they are drinking what appears to be coke every now and then. I also heard one of the commentators making a reference to not taking open cans of coke from fans. Is there something other than the quick boost of sugar or caffeine they are trying to get? When I'm suffering out on the bike the last thing I'd want is a coke. But, then again, I've never tried it.

I've been using Coke (Open can and let it go flat) cut 50/50 with water for about 15 years now as a cheep sugar boost on rides, and it works great. (Got this tip from a friend who used it to power himself to 3 TDF's victories, so it can't be too far off the mark!) ;)

Isn’t caffeine considered a performance enhancing drug, and banned in professional sport?

Originally posted by Gordon P
Isn’t caffeine considered a performance enhancing drug, and banned in professional sport?

Yes, under certain circumstances, in high doses only...

I have been caffeine free for a while because of the other sport I'm envolved with. but I did manage to have some caffeine and went riding that day... damn, i felt good, so i can see the pros and cons of it. I might try the 50/50 sounds like it would work.

-Ross

I use flatted coke when I run ultra-marathons (I have run 4 ultras). It has the caffine for a quick boost. In addition, after a while gatorade starts to taste bad. The coke gives you a different and sweeter flavored drink. I always look forward to the coke stops on my runs.

It is also handy if you bonk in the middle of a ride, gets in your system much quicker than gels or bars.

I wouldn't drink an open bottle of nuthin' if some dude handed me a drink during the Tour! :eek:

Originally posted by Gordon P
Isn’t caffeine considered a performance enhancing drug, and banned in professional sport?

there's enough minuses to caffeine use that it isn't a threat to competitive cycling....

caffeine is a dieuretic (causes you to pee) so using it too much will totally dehydrate you. even drinking more water won't help... it will all just go straight to your bladder.

1/2 coke ,1/2water ,2 shots of brandy,4 crushed panadol , shaken not stired :D & saved for the last portion of a hard ,hilly ride ;) Do'nt knock it till you try it :beer:

Originally posted by Rev.Chuck
It is also handy if you bonk in the middle of a ride, gets in your system much quicker than gels or bars.

I get the best of both worlds with Cilf Shots that have caffeine in 'em :D

With respect to the performance enhancement side of things... my own baseline level is pretty high due to coffee and tea drinking so a supplement doesn't do anything for me.

The one (and only) time I played with caffeine tablets before an especially hard crit I ended up having an upset stomach and got dropped after 10 laps. Universe: 1, Me:0

Wow! I learn something new everyday. I've always avoided caffeine before rides. I guess I thought my heart might explode.

Originally posted by Cipher
I've been using Coke (Open can and let it go flat) cut 50/50 with water for about 15 years now as a cheep sugar boost on rides, and it works great. (Got this tip from a friend who used it to power himself to 3 TDF's victories, so it can't be too far off the mark!) ;)


What ?? Only 3 TdF Victories ?? What's that about ? :D


Jeff--riding his bikes now

I use the Powergel with caffeine occasionally, and it helps me since I'm caffeine free the rest of the time.

Besides, Coca-Cola has their logo on all the water bottles, so you know it's a part of the sport, right?

double tall latte before my ride takes care of any caffine fix I may need :D

Triple Espresso at the halfway point in my group rides fuels my ride home ;-)

Jeff

Interesting thread. I saw the same thing and was baffled. I've always tried to avoid caffeine and carbonation (obviously the carbonation is bad) anytime I'm going to ride, run or swim--basically any strenuous physical activity that isn't golf.

I may try those Clif shots or some other gel with caffeine at some point. I just thought the diuretic effect was too much of a negative due to dehydration potential.

Originally posted by SipperPhoto
What ?? Only 3 TdF Victories ?? What's that about ? :D


Jeff--riding his bikes now
Cipher has friends in high places literally... see his photo and caption on another thread...
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=271073#post271073

Coke is a useful pick-me-up on long rides, and as a quick-fix for the bonk, but it can upset the insulin balance in your blood. Let it go flat if you are inclined to feeling bloated with carbonated drinks, and the 50-50 dilution with water is a good idea.

After using it on long randonnees earlier this year, I've gone off it lately, preferring a home-made mix of carbo powders that when mixed with water is cheap (I'm not paying the profits of a multi-national drink company), easy to swallow, and doesn't do nasty things with my pancreas and blood-sugar levels.

On the caffeine thing, an associate of mine was into bike racing a couple of decades ago. He wanted badly to win a 200km race between Launceston and Hobart (from the north of the island to the south). He contacted a vet (he also was into horses) and arranged some very powerful caffeine tablets. He took them, and won the race by a long, long way. So far, in fact, that the stewards were called in, he was swabbed, and then rubbed out. It was his last race. He said his heart rate didn't come down to a normal pulse for over two weeks, and sleep was virtually out of the question. He still rides for pleasure and fitness.

I prefer caffeine (usually coffee...) for my weekend pre-ride 'cleansing' ritual...

Originally posted by Rowan
Cipher has friends in high places literally... see his photo and caption on another thread...
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=271073#post271073



I know he does... it was meant as a joke :-) Actually ride a Lemond now... great bike ! great racer !

JEff:)

Yes, sorry Jeff, didn't mean to make it look like anything else. But there are quite a few around here that I reckon wouldn't quite have picked up on the connection.

Here's a Coke-head! :)

when i look at that pisture i feel like something is wrong with that... its just so odd.

look at that dirty bar tape!

from the UCI rule book:
caffine
for caffine, a sample shall be considered as positive if the concentration in the urine exceeds 5 micrograms/ml.

i read recently that you can drink about 6 cups of coffee and be ok, but not sure how accurate that is.

heres a link to the rules:
http://www.uci.ch./english/about/rules/ch14_dopage_liste_20020501.pdf

Originally posted by Rowan
Yes, sorry Jeff, didn't mean to make it look like anything else. But there are quite a few around here that I reckon wouldn't quite have picked up on the connection.

It's cool Rowan :-) Have fun !

Jeff

Originally posted by catsweat
Is there something other than the quick boost of sugar or caffeine they are trying to get?
As a matter of fact, yes, it would be money! I believe Coke is a sponsor, and it's likely that they've planted people at strategic points (e.g. the top of climbs) to hand out Cokes where they'll be likely to be caught on camera. The riders are clued as to where they can accept drinks. Also, the one that I noticed (Chavenel (sp?)), was handed wasn't open.

Not sure why everyone is suprised that they would drink a Coke. Nothing better than a Coke when you start to get the low blood sugar shakes. I figure it is probably better for you than allot of these gels and such. Now if you are one that has a hard time burping just make sure it is flat. Also Tyler had his open and he looked like he wanted it bad.

I wouldn't mind drinking a coke during a long ride- I just wouldn't accept an open can from just anyone while out riding... :eek:

Frankie Andreu said today that the riders get a can of Coke in their musette at the feed zones. I'll sometimes drink a Coke or Pepsi at a rest stop during a ride. It helps.

And yes, Coke is a sponsor. Every water bottle in the TdF says Coca-Cola on it.

They get the Cokes from the team cars and in the feed bags.

I drink Coke on rides all the time, or Pepsi. Drink to much though and it'll cramp your stomach and give you gas.